February tradition
Dragobete – Day of Love in Romania
On 24th February, Romania is celebrating the Dragobete – if you want a Romanian Equivalent of St. Valentines day. Dragobete has however an interesting story, a legend worth sharing.
It’s believed that he is the son of Dochia – a mean woman symbolizing winter. Dragobete is the opposite – a being full of joy, loved, of course, by girls. But he is not perfect – and in fact some say he managed to annoy Virgin Mary herself by trying to make her fall in love. As a punishment, Virgin Mary transformed him in a plant called “navalnic”. (It is indeed a legend that includes pagan and christian motives.)
On Dragobete’s Day one cannot work – the field, in the house, to sew, to weave etc. You may however clean your house – a sign of new, fresh, good. Also couples that want to stay together and in love must kiss today. Single women should see a man today – in order for them not to remain single the whole year. Also in some parts, single woman gather the last snow they find, they melt it for it is believed that this water has magical properties in love rituals. Also young people go to the field and gather the flowers that appeared – and then the boys will offer bouquets to the girl they like.
In the Romanian mythology, Dragobete was a young God, god of love, a Romanian Eros or Cupid that bought love and joy in people's hearts. About Dragobete, the legend says, that he was the son of Baba Dochia and the cousin of a vegetational hero. He is described as a young man, strong and handsome, beautiful and good, or in other legends as supernatural being, either god, or half man half angel, forever living and extremely beautiful. Either way, he walks through the world unseen. People can see him no more because their bad deeds caused the loss of 'sight'. Dragobete is the protector and bringer of love. The legend says that on Dragobete day the animals and birds 'get engaged' and girls and boys that trust the God and celebrate the day with joy and love will find their mate and remain in love over the year.
Logodnicul pasarilor - Fiance Birds
The celebration of Dragobete is called "Năvalnicul" or "fiance Birds". It says about birds, that on Dragobete, flocks gather, speak their language and seek suitable for mating pair after switching to build nests.
Tradition
A custom, found in some areas of the country, on Dragobete, is that young people dressed in festive costumes, clump, then leave the hills and forests close to villages to collect the first flowers of spring, which then will make icons or will use various charms of love. After picking the flowers of the field, start a game in which young boys chasing girls to catch them and kiss them. The game was watched by far, the village elders who saw who who like planning weddings for the year then already begun.
Symbol of LOVE
Tradition says that those who kiss the day of Dragobete meant to stay together for the rest of the year.
Dragobete - Sarbatoarea iubirii
Sarbatoarea iubirii
Dragobetele este sarbatoarea iubirii pentru romani, sarbatoare traditionala care dateaza din timpul dacilor. In traditia romaneasca, asemeni lui Cupidon sau Eros, Dragobete este divinitatea iubirii, cel care oficiaza in cer, la inceputul primaverii, nuntile tuturor pasarilor. De aici, obiceiul se extinde si la oameni, inca din timpul dacilor. In mitologia romaneasca se spune ca Dragobete este fiul Babei Dochia, vestitoarea primaverii.
Traditii de Dragobete – sarbatoarea iubirii
In ziua de 24 februarie, fetele si baietii se aduna si merg impreuna pe campuri sa culeaga flori gingase de primavara . Ghioceii sunt florile traditionale ale sarbatorii populare a iubirii, deoarece gingasia petalelor si albul imaculat exprima iubirea tanara, pura, care rezista tuturor obstacolelor.
Una din cele mai raspandite traditii de Dragobete este ca baietii sa ofere flori domnisoarelor pe care vor sa le cucereasca. Se spune ca de Dragobete se oficiau logodne care erau uneori atat de puternice incat cei doi se casatoreau si formau o familie. Baietii cautau cele mai frumoase flori si le daruiau fetei cu care isi doreau sa se logodeasca.
In linii mari, Dragobetele era sarbatoarea iubirii si sarbatoarea veseliei, a bunei dispozitii, la care participa tot satul.
Dragobete – sarbatoarea iubirii in zilele noastre
In zilele noastre, Dragobetele reprezinta singura sarbatoare romaneasca a iubirii, singura ocazie pentru indragostiti sa isi marturiseasca iubirea intr-un mod traditional. Cele mai daruite flori de Dragobete suntghioceii, trandafirii rosii - florile recunoscute ca fiind mesagerii iubirii, lalele, frezii, crini sau buchete mixte din flori de primavara.
Dragobetele este sarbatoarea iubirii, sarbatoare care nu poate trece neobservata intr-o relatie. Asadar, comandati din timp buchetul de flori dorit, cu livrare pe 24 februarie si cu siguranta veti face o persoana fericita sau veti reusi sa o cuceriti!
In dimineata zilei de Dragobete fetele si femeile tinere strang zapada proaspata, o topesc si se spala cu apa astfel obtinuta pe cap, pentru a avea avea parul si tenul placute admiratorilor. La pranz, fetele incep sa coboare spre sat in fuga, in sudul Romaniei aceasta goana fiind numita “zburatorit”. Fiecare baiat urmareste fata care ii place. Daca flacaul este iute de picior si fetei ii place urmaritorul, atunci are loc o sarutare mai indelungata in vazul tuturor. Tot de Dragobete se fac logodne simbolice pentru anul urmator (uneori le urmeaza logodnele adevarate) sau fetele si baietii se fac fratii de sange. Mai pe seara, tinerii, fete si baieti, se aduna mai multi la o casa, pentru a-si “face de Dragobete”, fiind convinsi ca, in felul acesta, vor fi indragostiti intregul an, pana la viitorul Dragobete.
Femeile obisnuiesc sa atinga un barbat din alt sat in ziua de Dragobete ca sa fie dragastoase tot anul si au aveau grija sa dea mancare buna pasarilor din curte dar si pasarilor cerului. De Dragobete nu se sacrifica niciun fel de vietate.
Sursa: http://blog.floria.ro/dragobete-sarbatoarea-iubirii-la-romani/ ; http://www.vinsieu.ro/blog/tag/dragobete-la-romani/